The Minister for Communications Dennis Naughten has confirmed today that the current TV licence fee will not be changed in the immediate future.

Minister Naughten’s comments come after recent rumours suggested that his Department were reviewing the current legislation that would see a number of admendments being made including an increase of €15 annually.

However those rumours were put to bed earlier this afternoon after Mr Naughten informed the Dail that his Department currently had no plans to implement any changes to the current legislation.

According to RTE News Minister Naughten told the Dail that although he reviewed the current legislation and suggested proposals for amendments, he revealed that any such changes to the fees are not appropriate at this current time.

It is understood that Mr Naughten was asked to review the situation earlier this year after Fianna Fails communication spokesperson Shane Cassells uncovered that there was a €6.5m shortfall in revenue from the current TV licence fees system.

Previous suggestions have attributed the shortfall to TV licence fee dodgers who have refused to pay their annual fee of €160.

Meanwhile​ many Irish citizens have criticised the current fees along with suggestions of an increase with many citing the quality of programming on offer by the state broadcaster RTE.